Week 101: July 22, 2019 - Final Sprint

Dear Family,

Well, this is just about it. The last stretch. One thing I love to do, mom knows better than anyone, is run. I think running is such a good analogy for enduring to the end. One thing I do at the end of my runs is a burst sprint. I do that because I want to feel like I gave everything in that run, like I didn't hold anything back. That's what I'm hoping to do this week.

This last week was pretty good. We got to teach a non-member family that a member family brought to a dinner last night. They were super awesome! Elder Ixtlahuac and I taught the plan of salvation in 4 minutes!! Something that we have been practicing a lot lately. The member told us after that they are literally elect and that he is preparing another one for us!!! So cool!! 

We also got to talk to an investigator named Mafalda. She is super nice and a happy person in general. She is very curious about the church. She has a baby girl that she is taking care of by herself right now. It has been hard to meet up with her as she is taking a college course right now, but she should have more free time this next week. 

We had a ward family night at the church. It was tons of fun!!! A few non-members that we invited came to the activity and a non-member that a member invited came as well. His name is Alex. He is awesome and super curious about the church. He came to church this Sunday and right after sacrament meeting, I stayed sitting in front with him and explained the restoration and a bit of the plan of salvation. It was so cool! I just felt on fire the whole time were were talking! 

Elder Ixtlahuac, I, and the Sisters in our ward did a musical presentation in sacrament meeting. It was pretty cool. I got to play the piano and everything. I also got to give a talk afterwards. Might have been my last talk here in Portugal as a missionary. I talked about temples and individual and family studies at home and how they contribute to our salvation and our exaltation. I have a very strong testimony that the temple really is the House of the Lord. I also thought about the scripture that says that a man cannot be saved in ignorance. I then thought how consequently a family could not be exalted in ignorance. I'm learning more and more about the importance of good study habits. I'm so Thankful for Mom and Dad and their examples in studies at home. I could not be here without that.

Love you all!!! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder Barton


Photo:
pic of everyone at the ward family night